What is it about?
This paper reports the application of an easily prepared waste biomass catalyst (that is banana peel ash) for the transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel at room temperature. Our catalyst, being a bio-waste material is biogenic, cheap, widely available and renewable. In addition, it is easily prepared by simply burning dried banana peels and can be used as such (without any requirements of functionalization or fabrication) making it a potential candidate as a “green catalyst” for low-cost production of biodiesel on the industrial scale. Very high yield of biodiesel (98.95%) was achieved.
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Why is it important?
Diminishing supply coupled with rising demand and environmental pollution related to fossil fuels has led to the quest for alternative sustainable sources of energy. In this line biodiesel gains momentum as a renewable energy source. In addition utilization of waste as a useful product such as catalyst is a smart way to recycle and reuse waste materials. Hence, this paper targets the production of biofuel/ biodiesel using waste material as a solid catalyst.
Perspectives
Our catalyst is exceptionally promising considering the simplicity of its preparation that does not require any functionalization, chemical treatment and elevated temperature, and availability of the precursor as a natural waste material.
Dr. Samuel Lalthazuala Rokhum
National Institute of Technology Silchar
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Exploiting waste: towards a sustainable production of biodiesel using Musa acuminata peel ash as a heterogeneous catalyst, Green Chemistry, January 2018, Royal Society of Chemistry,
DOI: 10.1039/c8gc00071a.
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